Where the Jobs Are

Soon after you begin searching for a job, you might realize how many more opportunities are available than you initially thought. For some job seekers, it's a welcome discovery because they now have more choices. For others, it means they have to sift through more job posts to see what best suits them.

Of the many factors you use to narrow down your search, such as salary and qualifications, one you should consider is projected job growth. A field that will experience an increase in demand and in newly created positions in the coming years means more stability. You don't want to switch to a new career only to be downsized shortly after you start.

To help your search, we've put together a list of the top industries and the five hottest jobs in each, along with their median salaries. These jobs will experience strong growth and be in great demand for the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). To further review their data organized by industry, visit the Career Guide to Industries at http://stats.bls.gov/oco/cg/home.htm

The following information is an example of data from five different industries:

Industry: Information Technology

1. Network systems and data communications analysts, Projected growth by 2016: 53 percent, Median annual salary: $64,600*

2. Computer applications software engineers, projected growth by 2016: 45 percent, Median annual salary: $79,780

3. Database administrators, projected growth by 2016: 29 percent, Median annual salary: $64,670

4. Computer systems software engineers, projected growth by 2016: 28 percent, Median annual salary: $85,370

5. Network and computer systems administrators, projected growth by 2016: 27 percent, Median annual salary: $62,130

Industry: Service

1. Home health aides, projected growth by 2016: 49 percent, Median annual salary: $19,420

2. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance, projected growth by 2016: 40 percent, Median annual salary: $31,820

3. Medical assistants, Projected growth: 35 percent, Median annual salary: $26,290

4. Skin care specialists, projected growth by 2016: 34 percent, Median annual salary: $26,170

5. Dental assistants, projected growth by 2016: 29 percent, Median annual salary: $30,220

Industry: Business and Financial Operations

1. Personal financial advisers, projected growth by 2016: 41 percent, Median annual salary: $66,120

2. Financial analysts, projected growth by 2016: 34 percent, Median annual salary: $66,590

3. Management analysts, projected growth by 2016: 22 percent, Median annual salary: $68,050

4. Meeting and convention planners, projected growth by 2016: 20 percent, Median annual salary: $42,180

5. Cost estimators, projected growth by 2016: 19 percent, Median annual salary: $52,940

Industry: Health Diagnosing and Treating

1. Veterinarians, Projected growth by 2016: 35 percent, Median annual salary: $71,990

2. Physician assistants, projected growth by 2016: 27 percent, Median annual salary: $74,980

3. Physical therapists, projected growth by 2016: 27 percent, Median annual salary: $66,200

4. Radiation therapists, projected growth by 2016: 25 percent, Median annual salary: $66,170

5. Registered nurses, projected growth by 2016: 23 percent, Median annual salary: $57,280

Industry: Education

1. Preschool teachers, except special education, projected growth by 2016: 26 percent, Median annual salary: $22,680

2. Post-secondary teachers, projected growth by 2016: 23 percent, Median annual salary: $56,120

3. Self-enrichment education teachers, projected growth by 2016: 23 percent, Median annual salary: $33,440

4. Instructional coordinators, projected growth by 2016: 22 percent. Median annual salary: $52,790

5. Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten and elementary school, projected growth by 2016: 20 percent, Median annual salary: $46,360

*Median annual salary based on BLS data.

Source: CareerBuilder.com, Anthony Balderrama, 2/25/8